[PITTSBURGH 64]

Stock points distributor with MSD-6AL and there adjustable timing control gets my vote. Easy spring access and its compact. But its not expensively complicated and for some reason people don't like that....
You will love being able to adjust timing on the fly.


My RA-4 cammed 462 with stock lifters idles like a champ with this set up. My Cliff's Quadrajet doesn't have a choke and my heads have the heat filled.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gx5Vrfolw84

[Schurkey]

Unless there's something WRONG with your HEI, you've already got what you need. Limit the centrifugal advance with a different center plate; or by welding/brazing the slots in the centrifugal advance mechanism. (on the top of the distributor shaft)

If it'll throw enough spark to jump the gap of an HEI spark tester; and the pickup and ignition coil are the right ones for a Pontiac, (clear plastic connector on the pickup coil, and the red and WHITE wires on the ignition coil) your "hard starting" is probably not a fault of the distributor.

HOW is it "hard starting"? Won't crank? Cranks slow? Cranks fast but won't run? Stalls after starting? Cranks and backfires? (double check your pickup coil and ignition coil!!!) Something else?

http://www.chevelles.com/techref/ftecref5.html

[70 conv goat]

Hard starting, car cranks well, hesitates to fire, is getting fuel (carb was on my 70 GTO with no issue), back fires through carb at times, doesn't want to idle when cold. At times I've had to use starting fluid...I've also had issues with fouling plugs.

I'm open to working the HEI, but didn't want to spend the time trying to set the slots in the plate. I tried going through Bob at D&D to get one of his kits. I talked to him a couple of times, but then he did not get back to me and I eventually gave up. I have not tried the HEI spark tester. I will check the pick-up and ignition coil.

I did not read the entire article Schurkey, but it does look like a wealth of information, thanks for passing along.

mchell, which coil are you running?

Pitt 64, do you then convert it to an electronic ignition with the 6AL? Where is a good source for an original points distributor?

[Schurkey]

Originally Posted by 70 conv goat

Hard starting, car cranks well, hesitates to fire, is getting fuel (carb was on my 70 GTO with no issue), back fires through carb at times, doesn't want to idle when cold. At times I've had to use starting fluid...I've also had issues with fouling plugs.

Classic symptoms of a misadjusted choke and/or other carb 'n' fuel system problems.

NOT classic symptoms of ignition trouble.

First Guess: You'll spend a LOT of money screwing with the ignition if the problem is actually in the carb.